Women in Libya facing big setbacks

After a slew of editorials and articles supporting the pro-National Transition Council forces in Libya, your editorial board must be excited to see that women’s rights will be all but erased under the new Libyan government.

Under Moammar Gadhafi, Libya was a leader in women’s rights, particularly with respect to other Arab nations. In fact, women in Libya had abortion rights before women in Europe. Women could marry and divorce at will, and there were no forced marriages. Women were scientists, politicians, doctors, lawyers, professors and teachers. Half of all educational scholarships went to women.

Now the NTC head, who was not elected but came to power through 9,000 NATO bombs, has announced that those marriage laws will be annulled. Rights to education are likely to follow. This is what happens when the militaries, governments and media of imperialist countries decide to tell independent countries what is best for them, and enforce those decisions through propaganda and war.